Gravitational wave detection using high precision pulsar observations

TL;DR

This paper discusses the use of high-precision pulsar timing to detect a stochastic gravitational wave background, detailing methods, current bounds, theoretical models, and new detection techniques.

Contribution

It introduces advanced statistical methods for gravitational wave detection via pulsar timing and summarizes current observational bounds and theoretical predictions.

Findings

Current upper bounds on gravitational wave background amplitude

Development of statistically rigorous detection techniques

Theoretical models predicting gravitational wave background presence

Abstract

Pulsar timing experiments are reaching sufficient sensitivity to detect a postulated stochastic gravitational wave background generated by merging supermassive black hole systems in the cores of galaxies. We describe the techniques behind the pulsar timing detection method, provide current upper bounds on the amplitude of any gravitational wave background, describe theoretical models predicting the existence of such a background and highlight new techniques for providing a statistically rigorous detection of the background.